Humidity control device
First Claim
1. A humidity control device for use in a stringed instrument case for maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a protective case, a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated salt solution, said case comprising wall means defining an enclosure, said wall means including a plurality of openings through which water vapor may freely move, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said thickened saturated salt solution comprising water, salt and a thickening agent, said salt being present in an amount between 20 and 75 percent by weight based on the weight of the combination of water and salt, said thickening agent being present in an amount sufficient to thicken the salt solution, said thickened saturated salt solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch, said pouch containing the thickened saturated salt solution being contained within the protective case to protect the pouch from rupture.
2 Assignments
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A humidity control device for use in maintaining a desired humidity, the device including a protective case, a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated solution, the solution having a suitable humidity control point.
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Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A humidity control device for use in a stringed instrument case for maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a protective case, a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated salt solution, said case comprising wall means defining an enclosure, said wall means including a plurality of openings through which water vapor may freely move, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said thickened saturated salt solution comprising water, salt and a thickening agent, said salt being present in an amount between 20 and 75 percent by weight based on the weight of the combination of water and salt, said thickening agent being present in an amount sufficient to thicken the salt solution, said thickened saturated salt solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch, said pouch containing the thickened saturated salt solution being contained within the protective case to protect the pouch from rupture.
- 12. A humidity control device for maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a protective case, a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated salt solution, said case comprising wall means defining an enclosure, said wall means including a plurality of openings through which water vapor may freely move, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said thickened saturated salt solution comprising water, salt and a thickening agent, said thickening agent being present in an amount sufficient to thicken the salt solution, said salt solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch, said pouch containing the thickened salt solution, said pouch being contained within the protective case to protect the pouch from rupture.
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18. A method of controlling the humidity in a string instrument case comprising applying a humidity control mechanism to environment in the instrument case, said mechanism including an encased saturated salt solution, said encasement being permeable to water vapor to permit water vapor to leave the salt solution if the adjacent relative humidity is below a desired level and to pick up water vapor if the relative humidity is above a desired level.
- 19. A humidity control device for use in maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated salt solution, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said thickened saturated salt solution comprising water, salt and a thickening agent, said salt being present in an amount of between 20 and 75 percent by weight based on the weight of the combination of water and salt, said thickening agent being present in amount sufficient to thicken the salt solution, said salt solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch, said pouch containing the thickened salt solution being contained within the protective case to protect the pouch from rupture.
- 31. A humidity control device for maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a water vapor permeable pouch and a thickened saturated solution, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said thickened saturated solution comprising water, a member selected from the group consisting of salt and sugar, and a thickening agent, said thickening agent being present in amount sufficient to thicken the solution, said solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch, said pouch containing the thickened solution.
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35. A humidity control device for use in maintaining a desired humidity, said device including a water vapor permeable pouch and a saturated solution, said pouch being formed of a thin wall polymer film through which water vapor may pass, said saturated solution comprising water and solute, said solute being present in an amount of between 20 and 75 percent by weight based on the weight of the combination of water and solute, said solution being contained within the polymeric pouch and sealed from escape from the pouch.
Specification